Lead Scientist - Microbiology

Job Title: Junior Team Leader - Microbiology

Location: Reading

Duration: Until 2nd December 2025

Pay Rate: £20 an hour

Job Overview:

Working as part of a cross-functional team at client, you will deliver the RDQ activities required to complete new product development, portfolio maintenance and/or productivity projects with an emphasis on meeting the desired consumer experience. You will also hold accountability and responsibility for the testing team, providing line management and conducting one-to-ones.

What you will bring:

A desire to drive your future and accelerate your career, along with the following experience and knowledge:

• A background in food science, science, or engineering, ideally within a fast-moving consumer goods market.
• Experience working both within teams and independently under the guidance of a manager.
• Proven ability in prioritising and managing activities.
• Experience in proactively identifying problems and independently creating and implementing solutions.
• A fundamental technical understanding to interpret and analyse data, allowing you to reach clear conclusions.
• Effective verbal and written communication skills, including technical writing.
• A focus on putting the consumer at the heart of development activities.
• A strong technical mind in microbiology, with recent experience working within the field (approximately 3 years).
• Experience of working to Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) standards.
• Prior line management / people management experience, having managed at least 1-2 individuals.
• The ability to work without close supervision and make decisions independently.

Responsibilities:

Working as part of a cross-functional team, you will deliver the RDQ activities required to complete project and/or productivity projects with an emphasis on meeting the desired consumer experience. You will also have accountability and responsibility for the testing team, providing line management, including conducting one-to-ones and supporting their development.

How you will contribute:

With the support and guidance of a manager, you will organise and execute projects in line with client requirements, effectively communicating status and risks. You will plan and conduct projects in accordance with good manufacturing practice and GMP requirements and validation activities. You will also write technical reports that will require the analysis and interpretation of results and that lead to conclusions and recommendations, and create and maintain accurate consumer-led specifications. You will be expected to work without supervision and make decisions as needed.

This Junior Team Leader position at client offers a good opportunity for someone with a microbiology background looking to further their team leader experience.

Randstad Business Support is acting as an Employment Business in relation to this vacancy.